Clinical Specialist (Skill Builder)

About Us
Child and Family Services (C+FS) has been serving children and families in Western New York for more than 150 years. Our Foster Care Program provides safe, nurturing homes for children and supports families on their path to reunification or permanency.

About the Role

The Clinical Specialist plays a vital clinical and program development role in strengthening the foster care program’s Skill Building services as required under NYS Department of Health 29-I regulations. This position supports children and youth in developing social, emotional, behavioral, and daily living skills while also providing clinical consultation and guidance to foster parents, case planners, and team members.

In addition to providing direct Skill Building interventions—especially during times when graduate interns are not available or when urgent needs arise—the Clinical Specialist will develop and lead an enhanced Skill Building model that integrates and oversees Master’s-level interns (MSW, MHC, MFT, and related disciplines). This role blends direct clinical work, consultation, program improvement, and leadership in service design.

The Qualified Candidate will have:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or related field required
• 3+ years post-graduate clinical experience with children/young adults preferred
• Early-career clinicians with strong foundational experience will be considered
• Clinical licensure (LMSW/LCSW, LMHC, LMFT) strongly preferred
• Strong clinical judgment, engagement skills, and a desire to build and improve program practices

Shift Information: Requires the ability to accommodate a flexible schedule that includes both traditional business hours and regular evenings to match the availability of foster parents and children on caseload. This position requires routine travel (primarily Erie County) to meet children and foster parents in home, school and daycare settings

Although this occurs infrequently (less than 5 times per year on average) the Clinical Specialist must be accessible for telephonic consultation outside of regular business hours during emergency situations involving children in care. When interns are unavailable—or during urgent or specialized needs—the Clinical Specialist will provide direct Skill Building services.

A day on the job as the Licensed Behavioral Health Practitioner- Skill Builder-

• Complete clinical assessments and develop individualized treatment or safety plans.
• Provide direct Skill Building services while new model is in development and on an ongoing basis when interns are unavailable or during urgent needs. 
• Teach and reinforce communication, regulation, daily living, and pro‑social skills to children in foster care.
• Use evidence-based, trauma‑informed clinical approaches.
• Develop and oversee a new Skill Building model that integrates Master’s-level interns (MSW, MHC, MFT, and related fields)
• Offer clinical consultation to case planners and foster parents
• Deliver skills-based trainings to foster parents
• Coordinate with case planners, foster parents, and treatment teams for consistent service delivery.
• Guide treatment planning and support trauma-informed service delivery

Competitive Salary range of $61,000 to $70,000 per year based on education and experience. Experienced clinicians (3+ years) typically start at $65,000 to $70,000, while early-year clinicians may be hired at the lower end of the range.

CFS offers full-time employees the below benefits to support our employees and their families and help to create a healthy work environment.

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
  –20 PTO Days (25 Days After Five Years of Employment)
  –14 Paid Holidays (includes 2 flex holidays)
  – Bereavement: Four Paid Days
  – Paid Jury Duty
• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• Medical, Two Plan Options
• Dental, Two Plan Options
• Vision Insurance
• Wellness Program and Incentives
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Quarterly Employer-Contributions
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Dependent Care FSA Retirement
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Qualifying Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• 403(b) Right Away and Employer-Contributions After Two Years

Child & Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Child & Family Services provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran or familial status, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Child & Family Services complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer leaves of absence, compensation, and training.